Arne Slot sends message to Liverpool fans as protests planned — 'I hope'

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has had his say on the planned protests from supporters groups after the club received backlash from fans over planned ticket price increases

Arne Slot has sent a message to Liverpool fans ahead of planned protests(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot insists he still feels supported by Liverpool fans, despite the increasing pressure surrounding his job and the planned protests this weekend.

Supporters groups have announced that protests will be held in response to ticket price increases, which were confirmed by the club recently. Spion Kop 1906, the group that organizes flags on The Kop for Anfield fixtures, has this week confirmed it will not be supplying flags for the remainder of home games this season.

The decision comes at a time when the Reds are struggling on the pitch, with their qualification for next season’s Champions League hanging in the balance as they prepare to take on Fulham on Saturday.

Slot in particular has been coming under pressure amid a poor run of results, but the Liverpool boss spoke glowingly of the support he and his team have received.

“Not only when we go through tough times,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “I think Anfield has shown in its history, but also since I’m here, how important these fans are for us when we play a home game.

“A recent example of course was Galatasaray, where we had a tough game away from home, where their fans were really loud, but then Anfield showed what being loud really is. They helped us through that game, and I can come up with so many examples where I’ve been part of it, but also in the history of this club.

Liverpool supporters groups have announced plans to protest against the club's ticket price increases(Image: Getty Images)

“That is what makes Anfield special, but I think in general, playing in front of your home fans is, for every team, very helpful. We’ve always felt that support, I’ve always felt that support when we are playing, in good and in bad times.

“I hope, even though there are protests, that the fans can be as helpful as they’ve always been for us this season and last season.”

With the Premier League earning an extra spot in next season’s Champions League this week, Liverpool remains in a position to qualify again for the competition, although it has plenty of work to do over the remainder of the campaign.

Slot faced questions about his future on Friday, although he insists he still feels he has the backing of both the club and the fans.

“I’m repeating myself a lot, but I’ve said it many times before, I feel a lot of support, but not only from the owners, and Richard and Michael, but I feel a lot of support from them as well,” Slot said.

“But, as weird as it might sound, I feel the support of the fans. We were going out in Paris, when the players were going out for the warm-up, and the fans - after a 4-0 loss - immediately started singing ‘we love you Liverpool’.

“And after, I think it’s fair to say, outplayed over 90 minutes, we went to the away end and they were still singing for us and clapping for us.

“That support, we’ve felt, I’ve felt, constantly. I think, and I’ve said this many times as well, the club knows in which period of time we are in, and in the meantime I feel complete support.”